Delayed discharges from hospital are still on the increase

Jackie Baillie MSP has urged the SNP Government to take action as the number of bed days lost to delayed discharge for patients from West Dunbartonshire increased by 25% and 16% for patients from Argyll and Bute in the month of August despite the SNP’s pledge to eradicate it.

New figures reveal that a total of 1,227 bed days were taken by patients from West Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute whose discharge from hospital had been delayed. 65% of the patients from Argyll and Bute who experienced delayed discharge were delayed for Health and Social Care reasons, and 82% of those from West Dunbartonshire were delayed for the same reason.

In 2015, the former Health Secretary, Shona Robison, pledged to eradicate delayed discharge within the year.

Ms Baillie said: “The intolerable strain which is being put on NHS wards by the SNP’s mismanagement and under-funding of the health service is clear. It is unacceptable that delayed discharge rates have risen again, with hundreds of people being left in hospital beds despite being ready to go home.  The SNP’s austerity policy of reducing council budgets over the last ten years is contributing to the vast majority of people being left in hospital as health and social care assessments are being delayed by a lack of funding and qualified staff.  Our NHS is being crippled, it’s time the SNP Government took this seriously and addressed the problems for the benefit of patients and hardworking staff.”